Patrick J O'Neill

BACKGROUND: Chondral lesions, peroneal tendon tears, and other disorders in patients with chronic ankle instability may not be detected by preoperative MRI. Also, MRI often is obtained and interpreted at the referring institution, leading to variability in reading.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We assessed the accuracy of the radiologists' and orthopaedic surgeon's reading of preoperative MRI for diagnosing ankle lesions in patients with ankle instability warranting surgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: ...

BACKGROUND: Obtaining adequate fixation during tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) arthrodesis may be challenging. Various fixation constructs have been tested biomechanically, but the use of a locking plate has not been reported. We hypothesized that the locking plate with a TTC augmentation screw would provide structural rigidity comparable to that of the intramedullary (IM) nail with a TTC augmentation screw during dorsiflexion testing.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six matched pairs of fresh frozen ...

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to evaluate the opinion of sports medicine fellowship directors and orthopaedic surgery department chairpersons on how many repetitions the average resident needs to become proficient in several common arthroscopic procedures.

TYPE OF STUDY: A cross-sectional study.

METHODS: A questionnaire was mailed to all fellowship directors on a list maintained by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and to all department chairpersons on a list maintained ...

BACKGROUND: This study compared intramedullary (IM) fixation for tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis with and without a tibiotalocalcaneal augmentation screw.

METHODS: Each specimen in six matched pairs of fresh frozen cadavers underwent tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis with an IM nail. One specimen from each pair also received a tibiotalocalcaneal augmentation screw. Initial and final stiffness, load to failure, and construct deformation at failure were calculated with dorsiflexion loading. ...

Background: Traction is presumed to be the mechanism of injury to the superficial peroneal nerve in an inversion ankle sprain, but it is not known whether the amount of strain caused by nerve traction is sufficient to cause nerve injury. We hypothesized that the superficial peroneal nerve would experience significant excursion and strain during a simulated inversion sprain, that sectioning of the anterior talofibular ligament would increase excursion and strain, and that an impact force ...

BACKGROUND: Many studies have demonstrated that orthotic treatment is effective for the prevention of curve progression in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. However, the effect of being overweight on the outcome of orthotic treatment has not been reported. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether orthotic treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is less successful for patients who are overweight than it is for those who are not overweight.

METHODS: A ...

Background: Many studies have demonstrated that orthotic treatment is effective for the prevention of curve progression in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. However, the effect of being overweight on the outcome of orthotic treatment has not been reported. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether orthotic treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is less successful for patients who are overweight than it is for those who are not overweight. Methods: A ...

BACKGROUND: Traction is presumed to be the mechanism of injury to the superficial peroneal nerve in an inversion ankle sprain, but it is not known whether the amount of strain caused by nerve traction is sufficient to cause nerve injury. We hypothesized that the superficial peroneal nerve would experience significant excursion and strain during a simulated inversion sprain, that sectioning of the anterior talofibular ligament would increase excursion and strain, and that an impact force ...

STUDY DESIGN: This report describes a case of successful surgical excision of an intrathoracic paraspinal desmoid tumor with an intraspinous extension causing scoliosis and paralysis in a 12-year-old girl.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this report is to illustrate the potential spectrum of disease of a desmoid tumor and to make physicians aware of the rare possibility of an intraspinal extension of a paraspinal desmoid tumor.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Surgical excision of desmoid tumors ...

Posteroanterior fusion using a fibular strut autograft has been advocated for the surgical treatment of high-grade lumbosacral spondylolisthesis. We report here the treatment of a 14-year-old girl using an S2-L5 fibular autograft, which resulted in the postoperative complication of a sigmoid colon perforation. Techniques for recognizing, treating, and avoiding this complication are presented.